Who is Public?

Actually when we discuss about Public Relations, it is essential to understand who is Public? Take an example of an Individual Person.  An individual person deals with many people. His family members, neighbors, nearby shop keepers and vendors or service providers, friends, relatives, well wishers, colloquies at work place, professionals like doctors, tax consultant, insurance agent, financial consultants etc.  All these people put together become as public to an individual. Everyone becomes separate category of Public.  Relationship with everyone mentioned above creates an image about an individual in the mind of his public. It may be good or bad. But it exists. Depending on the transactions or behavioral pattern an individual gets an identity which gives him positive and negative results.

Besides an individual for an organization there also exists different kind of Public. Any Private firm, company, Social organization, non government organization has to cater with different kind of Public. First and foremost Public group is known as customers. Any organization caters his customers depending on their employees therefore employees becomes another category of Public. Vendors, suppliers or service providers also play important role in catering customers of an organs ion.  Besides vendors and suppliers business associates, consultants contributes in giving good service or product to the customer. On the other hand in case of bigger company or organization financial institutes, depositors, Shareholders, bankers becomes back bone of an organization. So they also become part of Public concerned to the organization.  Of course, besides above, well wishers of the company also known as Public of an organization. Now a day’s number of media and alternate media is increasing and the all media people have become concerned Public. Beyond all these categories mass at large are connected directly or indirectly to the organization and every company has to deal with them for common interest.

In short we can consider following ten categories as concerned Public to any Individual or organization

1.       Customers, Potential customers

2.       Employees, Potential employees.

3.       Vendors, suppliers, service providers.

4.       Business associates and consultants.

5.       Bankers, Financial Institutes.

6.       Depositors, Shareholders. Donors, Sponsors.

7.       Government Authorities.

8.       Media Representatives.

9.       Friends and Well Wishers of the company.

10.   Public at large.

Mahesh Gajendragadkar: Author is Senior Public Relations Consultant in Pune

www.margrelations.com